As the media horde swarms around Ed Reed, waiting on the first training camp words of the grizzled Hall of Famer to be, Case Keenum throws passes to undrafted free agent wide receiver Andy Cruse on another field.

In one sequence, Keenum tells Cruse — who is more of a longshot, wide-eyed dreamer than even Keenum himself ever was — when to cut on a certain route, playing it forward even as Reed talks about being thought of as the Houston Texans new wise "uncle."

This extra time on the field after practice is anything but a charity situation to Keenum though. If he didn't having willing wide receivers, you get the idea he'd call over his wife Kimberly, who is waiting patiently on the sideline after this packed open practice, and send her on a go route.

It's training camp now, the first preseason game is only 10 days away and Keenum's only gaining on Yates.

Keenum knows he needs to grab every chance. He'll squeeze in extra reps whenever — and however — he can.

"It's important," Keenum says of the post-practice work. "You want to feel good about what you're doing and end on a good note. It's a chance to work on things.

"If you had a bad rep in practice, you want to work on that and do it right. Make that play a good rep."

So Keenum gets in as many reps as he can. The former University of Houston quarterback star keeps pushing himself, almost willing himself into an NFL ready quarterback throw after throw . . . after throw. This is the Case Keenum way. He always wanted to know how many passes he threw and completed in each practice at UH and his old coach Kevin Sumlin made sure the hard data was available.

This analytical drive is starting to be recognized on the pro level as well. Texans coach Gary Kubiak is talking about just how hard Keenum is pushing T.J. Yates for the No. 2 quarterback job again. Kubiak said much of the same thing during OTAs (essentially offseason practices in shorts), but some Houston media voices refused to accept that truth. Some like 610 AM's Nick Wright downright mocked the idea.

Only it's training camp now, the first preseason game is only 10 days away and Keenum's only gaining on Yates.

"He’s having a really good camp," Kubiak says of Keenum. "I’ll be interested to see — he’s going to play a lot in the preseason. I’ve got to play him and T.J. a great deal."

Kubiak also notes how Yates is having some issues. "I think T.J. can throw the ball a little better than he’s throwing it," the coach says. "His arm is a little tired right now. They’re all tired. He missed a few this morning, but he made some plays.

"He’s in a very competitive situation right now with Case and that will work itself out throughout the course of the preseason."

Last edited by Lucky; 08-04-2013 at 02:23 PM.
Reason: edited for brevity

Only it's training camp now, the first preseason game is only 10 days away and Keenum's only gaining on Yates.

"He’s having a really good camp," Kubiak says of Keenum. "I’ll be interested to see — he’s going to play a lot in the preseason. I’ve got to play him and T.J. a great deal."

Kubiak also notes how Yates is having some issues. "I think T.J. can throw the ball a little better than he’s throwing it," the coach says. "His arm is a little tired right now. They’re all tired. He missed a few this morning, but he made some plays.

"He’s in a very competitive situation right now with Case and that will work itself out throughout the course of the preseason."

If this was a more manipulative coach, a coach who didn't care about his players the way Kubiak does, one might argue that this simply could be a well-played ploy. A kick in the butt to a quarterback with some proven NFL experience (Yates).

Toying with his guys' emotions isn't really the Gary Kubiak way though. This isn't Rex Ryan. Kubiak doesn't just say things for effect.

If the race for QB2 is neck and neck at the end of the preseason, I'd give the nod to Keenum. I'd rather have the guy who fought and gained ground vs the one who was caught from behind.

Don't listen to reporters. Jedi mind tricks work extremely well on the weak minded. Notice nowhere in that whole report that was quoted, but not quoted, did Gary Kubiak ever state that Keenum is the #2, that Keenum has surpassed Tj, or that Keenum will even make the team.

You've never seen anything like that on any of the other threads dedicated to the Texans preseason & thanks to the wonderful guys & gals we have here, if there is news about the Texans it's here.

The whole report that was quoted, but not, is just some reporters wishes & desires presented as fact, a sort of, "If I say it it must be true." Kind of thing. You're smarter than that.

The only edge out there, is in Kubiak's mind & he's not saying one way or the other.

I'm not going to lie, I want Keenum to win the backup job. I like some things Yates did, and I still don't think we fans have given the guy a fair shot, but I just think Keenum has an abundance of the sort of determination, drive, and work ethic that can lead a team a long way.

__________________Hey O'Brien: "How do you tell a guy who is used to catching 80 balls a year that he was going to catch 40?"... You jackass.

I just think Keenum has an abundance of the sort of determination, drive, and work ethic that can lead a team a long way.

Well, hopefully Kubiak does the right thing & make the better of the two the back up. But I think he's going to go with Yates because he's been here longer. Thinking we'll probably see both of them in the regular season.

Matt is probably going to miss some time & one of those two are going to have to step up & be the man. Whoever Kubiak puts in I hope he trusts him enough to let him be a QB & not put everything on Foster's plate like last time.

Well, hopefully Kubiak does the right thing & make the better of the two the back up. But I think he's going to go with Yates because he's been here longer. Thinking we'll probably see both of them in the regular season.

Matt is probably going to miss some time & one of those two are going to have to step up & be the man. Whoever Kubiak puts in I hope he trusts him enough to let him be a QB & not put everything on Foster's plate like last time.

regardless, keenum making a run at the 2nd spot makes everyone better. if the guy is working his tail off, everyone wins. I want a lot of competition with our 2nd and 3rd QB's against schaub. if he is even the 3rd qb (close with 2nd), Keenum will have moved up from last year.

Don't listen to reporters. Jedi mind tricks work extremely well on the weak minded. Notice nowhere in that whole report that was quoted, but not quoted, did Gary Kubiak ever state that Keenum is the #2, that Keenum has surpassed Tj, or that Keenum will even make the team.

You've never seen anything like that on any of the other threads dedicated to the Texans preseason & thanks to the wonderful guys & gals we have here, if there is news about the Texans it's here.

The whole report that was quoted, but not, is just some reporters wishes & desires presented as fact, a sort of, "If I say it it must be true." Kind of thing. You're smarter than that.

The only edge out there, is in Kubiak's mind & he's not saying one way or the other.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not buying anything being sold by anyone right now.
I'm just saying that I would give the nod to Keenum if he and Yates are neck and neck at the end of the preseason. If they are that close when the regular season kicks off, that means Keenum has improved a ton, or Yates has regressed a ton, so I give the edge to the ascending player.

I never thought Keenum would even sniff the regular season roster, and really still don't.

By all accounts Keenum has made great strides. And I think he has a little bit of an "it" factor that TJ lacks in my view. He might even have more upside - TBD.

Having said that, he has to pass not one, but two guys with real NFL game experience, one of whom has playoff experience.

In my mind, Case has to not play even, or play a little better. He has to be clearly head and shoulders above TJ to be named #2. It has to be so obvious that Kubes has no choice.

To put it another way. it's a big game and the playoffs are on the line. Schaub just got sacked. It's 17 for the opponent, 10 for the Texans. There is 8 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Plenty of time. Looks like Schaub might be out the rest of the game, as he's limping to the sideline. Time to bring in your backup.

Now, do you want a guy there that's never taken a single NFL snap, or do you want the guy that led the team to the playoffs and was the starting QB in a playoff game?

By all accounts Keenum has made great strides. And I think he has a little bit of an "it" factor that TJ lacks in my view. He might even have more upside - TBD.

Having said that, he has to pass not one, but two guys with real NFL game experience, one of whom has playoff experience.

In my mind, Case has to not play even, or play a little better. He has to be clearly head and shoulders above TJ to be named #2. It has to be so obvious that Kubes has no choice.

To put it another way. it's a big game and the playoffs are on the line. Schaub just got sacked. It's 17 for the opponent, 10 for the Texans. There is 8 minutes left in the 4th quarter. Plenty of time. Looks like Schaub might be out the rest of the game, as he's limping to the sideline. Time to bring in your backup.

Now, do you want a guy there that's never taken a single NFL snap, or do you want the guy that led the team to the playoffs and was the starting QB in a playoff game?

If you answered the guy with no experience, then...

I'm not saying I disagree with you, but Yates didn't have a single NFL snap when he was called on, so obviously it is possible for an inexperienced QB to come in and have success.

I'm not saying I disagree with you, but Yates didn't have a single NFL snap when he was called on, so obviously it is possible for an inexperienced QB to come in and have success.

Right I get that, but let's examine the apples to oranges comparison you are making.

Yates was the #3 that season. The reason he played at all wasn't because Kubes put him ahead of Leinart on the depth chart, it was because both #1 and #2 got injured. In short, Kubiak had no other reasonable course of action. It was Yates or bust.

And Case will play if both Schaub and Yates go down this year too. No difference.

And yes, I understand all QB's are inexperienced - until they are not. But Case was a UDFA. Maybe it shouldn't matter where you start, but if you don't believe that, I think you are very naive. There is a difference between being a #1 pick and being a UDFA. There just is. And yes, I realize Yates wasn't a #1 - I'm simply pointing out that where you start does make a difference in how quickly you get the chance to overtake the person above you.

And yes, I understand all QB's are inexperienced - until they are not. But Case was a UDFA. Maybe it shouldn't matter where you start, but if you don't believe that, I think you are very naive. There is a difference between being a #1 pick and being a UDFA. There just is. And yes, I realize Yates wasn't a #1 - I'm simply pointing out that where you start does make a difference in how quickly you get the chance to overtake the person above you.

In the first off-season, yes. After that it basically means zilch unless the disparity is much greater.